Nagaland: School Education department makes Teacher Eligibility Test mandatory

DIMAPUR — The Directorate of School Education has notified that the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is mandatory for certain categories of in-service and aspiring teachers.

Under the new directives, all categories of primary and graduate teachers appointed prior to the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act, 2009) and having more than five years to retire on superannuation as of September 1, 2025, must qualify for the TET on or before August 31, 2028.

According to a DIPR report, teachers who fail to qualify within this period will be compulsorily retired and paid whatever terminal benefits they are entitled to. This entitlement is subject to the fulfilment of the prescribed qualifying period of service under the relevant rules. In cases of deficiency in qualifying service, the competent authority may consider representations from the concerned teachers.

These directions are also applicable to all categories of in-service primary and graduate teachers appointed after the enactment of the RTE Act, 2009.

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In-service primary and graduate teachers with less than five years of service remaining as of September 1, 2025, may continue in service until superannuation without qualifying for the TET. However, qualifying the TET remains mandatory for such teachers to be eligible for promotion.

Furthermore, those aspiring for appointment as primary and graduate teachers, as well as in-service primary and graduate teachers seeking promotion, must qualify for the TET to be considered for candidature.

These directions apply to all categories of schools as defined in Section 2 of the RTE Act, 2009, except those established and administered by religious or linguistic minorities.